Daily Zohar # 5208 – Vayikra – He sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength

Hebrew translation:

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Zohar Vayikra
Continued from previous DZ

#411
And when the judgment is completed and rests upon the person, then the fingers are completed and fixed five against five, right in left, to show that all agreed upon him in that judgment, and his hands become straight, that is, the fingers interlock with each other, to show a thing without the intention of the person, that he did not intend it. And therefore it is written, “יְמִינְךָ יְהוָה נֶאְדָּרִי בַּכֹּחַ יְמִינְךָ יְהוָה תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב” “Your right hand, YHVH, is glorious in power; Your right hand, YHVH, shatters the enemy” (Exodus 15:6). Its meaning is that the left is included in the right, and the judgment is completed. And then it is the existence of everything. And therefore when the Holy One, blessed be He, wants to establish everything, it is written, “נִשְׁבַּע יְהוָה בִּימִינוֹ וּבִזְרוֹעַ עֻזּוֹ אִם אֶתֵּן אֶת דְּגָנְךָ עוֹד מַאֲכָל לְאֹיְבֶיךָ” “YHVH has sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength: Surely I will no more give your grain to be food for your enemies…” (Isaiah 62:8).

Rabbi Ashlag’s (HaSulam) summary explanation for #409–#411

This section explains the inner meaning of YHVH’s oath. Although the Torah speaks in the language of people, the oath represents a fixed, unchangeable divine action that reveals complete certainty and security.

Two main ideas are clarified:

1. There is a limit to sins and judgments. Once a sinner reaches this limit, he can no longer continue sinning, and further judgments cease.
2. From the perspective of the world as a whole, this limit is like an oath, because the wicked are as if dead — they can no longer sin, and judgments no longer rule on earth. This is the meaning of “YHVH has sworn by His right hand… Surely I will no more give your grain as food for your enemies…” (Isaiah 62:8), which will occur before the final correction.

Root of All Sins The root of every sin is the strengthening of the left (Gevurah/severity) over the right (Chessed/mercy). Each person has a root above. When a person sins, he strengthens the left in his soul’s root, creates division between left and right, and draws judgments. If he continues sinning without repenting, the harsh aspect of Malchut of the First Restriction (unmitigated judgment) is revealed upon him, all lights depart from his root, and he spiritually dies.

This harsh judgment is not completed all at once but builds gradually through repeated sins, taking hold in each of the five levels: Chessed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzach, and Hod. When it reaches Chessed (the highest of these), the form of judgment is fully completed, and no further judgments are possible.

Right and Left Columns: The harsh judgment affects only the left column (source of Chochmah/wisdom). The right column (source of Chassadim) is never damaged by it, because there was never a restriction on the light of Chessed. Once the five levels are affected, all lights of the left column depart, while the right column is strengthened — it overcomes the division, and the left is forced to be included within it. The sinner, however, who has become attached to the left, can receive nothing from the right and thus perishes.

Malchut of the First Restriction: Malchut of the First Restriction (pure judgment) cannot sustain the world. Therefore, Malchut was sweetened by being raised into Binah (mercy). This creates two points in Malchut: the point of judgment is hidden, while the sweetened point is revealed. Malchut is thus called the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil — good for the righteous, evil for those who do not merit.

Process for the Individual Sinner: As long as the point of harsh judgment has not been revealed upon him, repentance is effective because his vessels can still receive light. Once that point is revealed in all five levels up to Chessed, his vessels are damaged, and repentance no longer helps. Sins progressively damage the ten sefirot of his soul’s root, starting from Hod, then Netzach, until Chessed. At that point, the left column is emptied of light, division ends, and the sinner can no longer sin or repent effectively.

Symbolism of the Hands: When judgment is complete, the fingers interlock five against five (right with left). This shows the left has been included in the right. The sinner’s hands straighten and interlock unintentionally, revealing the decree above: the five aspects of the left have been included in the right, and he, unable to receive from the right, receives the decree of death.

Collective Level (Israel and Nations): On the collective level, Israel is judged by the majority. When the wicked strengthen the left, the nations (rooted in the left) gain power to oppress Israel (rooted in the right). This is the secret of the exiles, including Egypt. Once sins reach the limit and the harsh judgment is revealed up to Chessed, the left column is emptied and included in the right. The power of the oppressors is broken, and the right is strengthened. This is the meaning of “יְמִינְךָ ה’ נֶאְדָּרִי בַּכֹּחַ יְמִינְךָ ה’ תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב” “Your right hand, YHVH, is glorious in power; Your right hand, YHVH, shatters the enemy” (Exodus 15:6).

Future Redemption: Just as in the Exodus from Egypt, the future redemption from all nations will occur through the revelation of Malchut, with harsh judgment at all levels. This nullifies the left’s power forever, like an unbreakable oath that no nation will ever again subjugate Israel. This is the deeper meaning of YHVH swearing by His right hand and the arm of His strength — ensuring the final victory of the right over the left and the complete establishment of the world.

Three Aspects of This Revelation

1. For the individual sinner, hope ends.
2. For a specific nation (e.g., Egypt), its power to oppress is permanently broken.
3. For the entire world and all seventy nations, the left can never again overpower the right, bringing ultimate correction.

#412
Rabbi Yehuda opened, It is written, ‘פְּרִי עֵץ הָדָר כַּפֹּת תְּמָרִים” “fruit of a splendid tree, branches of palm trees” (Leviticus 23:40). “Fruit of a splendid tree,” what is it? This is the etrog (citron). He asks, But is the etrog from a splendid tree, for there are many thorns on the etrog tree all around it from this side and that side, and you say ‘fruit of a splendid tree.” And he answers, Rather, the secret of the matter is, as it is written, “וַיִּבֶן יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים אֶת הַצֵּלָע אֲשֶׁר לָקַח מִן הָאָדָם לְאִשָּׁה וַיְבִאֶהָ אֶל הָאָדָם” “And YHVH God built the rib which He took from the man into a woman, and brought her unto the man” (Genesis 2:22). And it is written, “עֶצֶם מֵעַצְמִי וּבָשָׂר מִבְּשָׂרִי” “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” (Genesis 2:23). And this is “fruit of a splendid tree.” From where do we know that man is called a tree. As it is written, “כִּי הָאָדָם עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה הוּא” “for man is a tree of the field” (Deuteronomy 20:19).
Interpretation: The inner meaning of the verses “And YHVH God built the rib…” revolves around Zeir Anpin and Malchut that were emanated as two faces, and afterward the Emanator sawed them one from the other. And Malchut was found to be a rib from Zeir Anpin. And Zeir Anpin is called the Tree of Life. And Malchut is the fruit of this tree. And it says that this is the secret of the etrog, which hints at Malchut, and therefore the Torah called it “fruit of a splendid tree,” because it is the fruit of the splendid tree, which is Zeir Anpin.
Notes:
Rabbi Yehuda reveals that the etrog (“fruit of a splendid tree”) alludes to Malchut, the feminine aspect that was originally a “rib” or side of Zeir Anpin (the Tree of Life). Despite the thorns on the tree, it is called splendid because Malchut is the holy fruit that emerges from Zeir Anpin.

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